Closure shim for potato sacks



Oct. 1, 1929. R. c. ZUCKERMAN CLOSURE sum 20R POTATO SACKS Filed Aug.10, 1927 INVENTOR R. C. Zuckerman hum BYQ)

ATTORN EY I Patented Oct. 1, 4929 PATENT OFFICE ROSCOiE C. ZUCKERMAN, OFSTOCKTON, CALIFORNIA CLOSURE SHIM FOR POTATO SACKS Application filedAugust 10, 1927. Serial No. 211,930.

This invention relates to improvements in receptacle closures, andparticularly in connection with closures for the open mouths of potatosacks when the same have been filled with potatoes or like produce.

The object of the invention is to produce a closure which will permitthe sack to be exceptionally well filled with the produce and at thesame time securely retain the same therein.

A further object of the invention is to so provide the closure that itmay be exposed for the display of such trade-mark data as it may befound desirable to put thereon, such as the trade name of the packer,producer, shipper, or the like.

Under present day methods of sacking potatoes in common use particularlyin the delta sections of California where potatoes are raised in largequantities, it is the usual cus tom to make the closure of the sack withlayers of tules or like material. This method is slow and expensive andnot entirely satisfactory.

By the use of my improved closure the time consumed and the expense infilling and closing the sack is much reduced over that required for theformer method above indicated. J

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and et one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it 'isdesigned.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and clalms.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the 40 several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sack of potatoes filled and closedwith my improved closure shim.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional v1ew taken on a line 2*2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the closure shim. v

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings,,the numeral 1 designates my improved closure shim. This ismade of a relatively stiif piece of flat cardboard or like fibrousmaterial and 1s cut preferably in a substantially oval shape so as toconform to the open mouth ormug of the sack 2 after it is filled withpotatoes and the ears 3 are formed thereon and the open end closed bythe usual twine 4. When the sack is filled with potatoes these arefilled very tightly into the sack and the shim 1 is then placed so-as tobe just slightly overlapped by the top open edges of the sack and isthen secured in position over and forming a closure for the potatoes bymeans of the usual sewing operation carried on in the forming of theears 3 and the threading through of the twine. 4 back and forth acrossthe said open edges of the sack.

It will be readily seen that the relatively stiff cardboard shim 1 formsa very admirable closure for the sack and will hold all potatoes thereinfrom any possible chance of working out through the spaces between thetwine. It will further be obvious that it can be very quickly andadvantageously'inserted and secured in position, and also used for thecarrying of any descriptive printed or trademark matter, as indicated bythe lettering shown thereon in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be so readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction 5 of the device, still in practice such devlatlons fromsuch detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from thespirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what 90 I claim'as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an open mouthed flexible container, a closure forthe mouth thereof consisting of a relatively stifl but flexible elementadapted to substantially fit the mouth and cover the contents of thecontalner, and means to connect opposite sides of the container aboveand across the closure, said means extending at spaced intervalsentirely across and in contact with the closure and being under tensionto prevent bulging of the closure and to constitute a reinforcementtherefor.

2. In combination with an open mouthed flexible container, a closure forthe mouth thereof consisting of a relatively stifi' but flexibleelement, and twine sewed across the mouth of the container and over thetop of the closure, said twine extending at spaced intervals entirelyacross and in contact with the closure and being under tension toprevent bulging of the closure and to constitute a reinforcementtherefor.

3. In combination with an open mouthed fabric container of a closure'forthe mouth thereof comprising a relatively stifi but flexiblef elementadapted to rest upon and conform to the irregularities of materialwithin the container, and twine sewed across the open mouth and over theenclosure to hold the same in frictional contact with such materialwithin the container, said twine extending at spaced intervals entirelyacross and in contact with the closure and being under tension toprevent bulging of the closure and to constitute a reinforcementtherefor.

4. In combination with an open mouthed flexible container, aeclosure forthe mouth thereof consisting of a flexible element adapted tosubstantially fit the mouth and cover the contents of the container, andmeans to connect opposite sides of' the container above and across theclosure, said means extending at spaced intervals entirely across and incontact with the closure and being under tension to prevent bulging ofthe closure and to constitute a reinforcement therefor. I

5. The combination with an open mouthed fabric bag; of a closure headlocated withln the mouth of said bag and consisting of a sheet of stiffbut flexible material, said bag having the edges at the mouth engagingover the periphery of the closure, and st tching connectingsubstantially opposite portions of the bag mouth and overlying theclosure head to hold the bag edges over the closure and the closure inthe bag mouth, said stitching being under tension across and in contactwith the sheet to prevent bulging thereof.

6. The combination with an open mouthed fabric bag; of a closure headlocatel within the mouth of said bag and consisting of a tied atopposite sheet of stiff but flexible material, said bag having the edgesof the mouth gathered to engage over the periphery of the closure andpoints to hold the edges in position over the closure and to provide apair of handling ears, and stitching connecting substantially oppositeportions of the bag .mouth and overlying the closure head to hold thebag edges over the closure and the closure in the bag mouth and drawnsufliciently tight to prevent bulging of the sheet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROSCOE G. ZUCKERMAN.

